Are Ingersoll Rand good air compressors?

[Gregski]

folks I hope you can help me out and please know when it comes to air compressors I know nothing (some stand up some lay down) there's the single pumpers and the two stage double pumpers and 110 volters and 220 volters that's all I know

I see an Ingersoll Rand on Craigslist for $700 and before I pull the trigger and finally treat myself to a proper air compressor I would like to know if these are any good, it says ASSEMBLED IN USA (as opposed to Made in USA) on it

Biggest need is to use it for my small media blast cabinet and maybe some painting, not really for impact wrenchin'

wish I had the model # for you but it don't say, I'll add it up here when he tells me

[Ironhorse]

No personal experience with an Ingersoll / Rand air compressor but has always been my understanding they are one of the better ones out there. If the pic is of the actual compressor in question it looks to be in good condition and perhaps a newer unit? If you can get the model number I would do a Google search and see what it sells for new to decide if the $700 is a fair price for a used unit with no warranty. Looks similar to my 60 gallon upright Coleman 7 HP 220 volt unit. I like the upright tanks for the space concerns. Mine is a single stage unit but runs an impact just fine. Use mine a LOT when connected to my bead blast cabinet. Also for the usual airing tires, cleaning off the ZTR after get done mowing my two acres. A good air compressor is VERY handy in the garage or shop. Good luck with your buying decision.

[Blue GMC]

Another one with no experience with IR but my body shop had two IR air compressor hooked up for all their air tools this was also 10+ years ago

[mongocanfly]

No complaints about my IR 60gal..been running for about 20yrs...only thing I've replaced was the pressure switch
Got mine at tractor supply

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

There commercial grade stuff is legit, and high quality. So it likely carries over across the line.

My current job has 3 giant ones for processing, and I have used them in pneumatic systems

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust

There commercial grade stuff is legit, and high quality. So it likely carries over across the line.

Not sure about that, I recall when DeWalt made quality tools, ha ha and then they started the cheap stuff

[Richardwa]

Ingersoll-rand makes other brands compressors also. My 60 gallon Husky from home depot is a rebranded IR

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Richardwa

Ingersoll-rand makes other brands compressors also. My 60 gallon Husky from home depot is a rebranded IR

Oh wow! that is very interesting

[Grumpy old man]

Looks like one of mine I bought about 8 years ago on sale at tractor supply $650.00 Model SS4L5 5 HP 220 60 gallon , Works perfect from day 1 . I set it up right next to my circuit breaker box on a 30 amp breaker and good cable / plug . about $120.00 for accessories . Handles all my air tools / sanders ,Etc I have a Black Max 80 gallon for blasting and long use sanding .

DON'T LAY STAND UP AIR COMPRESSORS DOWN ONCE YOU HAVE FILLED THEM WITH OIL .

$850.00 new at tractor supply

info - https://www.ingersollrand.com/en-us/...perience/ss4l5

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Looks like one of mine I bought about 8 years ago on sale at tractor supply $650.00 Model SS4L5 5 HP 220 60 gallon , Works perfect from day 1 . I set it up right next to my circuit breaker box on a 30 amp breaker and good cable / plug . about $120.00 for accessories . Handles all my air tools / sanders ,Etc I have a Black Max 80 gallon for blasting and long use sanding .

DON'T LAY STAND UP AIR COMPRESSORS DOWN ONCE YOU HAVE FILLED THEM WITH OIL .

$850.00 new at tractor supply

info - https://www.ingersollrand.com/en-us/...perience/ss4l5

Thank you so much, Ah so if it's the same one it's a Single Stage, I would prefer a two stage for my small media blasting cabinet

[mongocanfly]

Mines not a 2 stage

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Mines 2 stage

thanks Greg, can you share your part number please and thank you

[Low Elco]

Mine's a 2 stage 5 horse IR L30. Works great! Knock, Knock. Have mine hooked to a 1/2" nylon line kit for my whole shop and house.

[LS short box]

I've had my 2 stage for 20 plus years. It is a DeVilibes? I'm sure its a rebranded something. 220 volt. 80 gallon tank. Has been bullet proof.
If you have the cash, voltage and space I would go two stage.
Also in the the MPLS area there is company that rebuilds air compressors and have rebuilt units for sale.

[mongocanfly]

I earlier mistakenly said mine was a 2 stage...its only single stage
Heres the labeling on it

[LONGHAIR]

CFM and Duty-Cycle are the most important factors to consider when looking at compressors. Many of the big box store type units are lacking in both due to cost cutting measures. They have less efficient pumps and cheaper motors, but for the average joe-homeowner, they are "good enough", to some degree.
Most guys don't use them very often, but they over-use them when they do. This results in a machine that gets abused infrequently enough to survive a while.
The lower Duty-Cycle is the worst part, some are as low as 20%. Then they put larger tanks on them to seem like you are getting something. In reality, at 20%, you should only be running for 12 minutes per hour. With a cheap compressor, having a low end pump, that is basically filling the tank (from empty) and then not running again for an hour? Not likely.
Some guys go all crazy with adding extra tanks to increase volume, but this is hard on things too. It make the pump run a lot longer when it is cycled on. This creates a lot of heat, which causes condensation as the air cools again, also not good.

A smaller unit, with a better pump and higher Duty Cycle, may be a better buy. It will run more often, but it isn't hurting itself in the process.

All of this depends on how often you use it and how long each time. Blasting and painting are big air hogs, so plan accordingly.

Air lines are another big topic.
Some guys don't like iron because of the rust factor, but there are ways to deal with that, and in some areas of the country, it's a non-issue anyway. It is a little more difficult to add or re-arrange drops, if you need to.

Copper is crazy expensive, but it's fantastic. The place where I worked as a mechanic, back in the 80s, had it everywhere, never an issue of any kind.

PVC, is cheap and it does work....for a while. When I first started at the shop where I work now, they had PVC. It was fine, until that "one time" when someone hit it. When PVC fails, it is catastrophic. This can be dangerous.

Where we are now is all aluminum. To me, it's the best of all worlds. It's not cheap, but not horrible either, it is very easy to deal with and doesn't have the safety issues of the cheaper alternatives.

One piece of advice, if you intend to have more than one drop and ever have the possibility of more than one person using air at one time, run your main line as a loop. This prevents pressure drops when someone else uses the air at the same time.

[Nick_R_23]

My IR compressor is a 1990 model - 31 years old - and still going strong.

[old Rusty C10]

ive had one for yearts mine works great

[truckdude239]

i got a 1980 80 gallon 5hp 30t at work just now gettign its first pump rebuild i wouldnt have to if the last guy that serviced it for my work when i was on vaction used the wrong oil in it had crank bearing fail looking for another 30 years out of it after rebuild

[Jrainman]

Originally Posted by truckdude239

i got a 1980 80 gallon 5hp 30t at work just now gettign its first pump rebuild i wouldnt have to if the last guy that serviced it for my work when i was on vaction used the wrong oil in it had crank bearing fail looking for another 30 years out of it after rebuild

The IR 30t is the Roll Royce of compressors , if you want IR the 30t is what you want , if properly maintained your grandkids children will be using it.

[Gregski]

so I finally pulled the trigger and treated myself to a Campbell Hausfeld, 60 Gal. 2-stage, 3.7 HP electric air compressor (XC602100) from Home Depot

I figured everything 2-stage on Craigslist looked like it was made during the Bronze Age, meaning it served it's purpose and they were dumping it for a reason

plus I got some serious discounts off of the fake arbitrary original price, LOL

$1,380.00

$1,104.00 Saved $276.00 (20%)

plus GOT $100 OFF and payed only $1,100.60 instead for opening a new HD credit card

we are really good about not carrying any unsecured debt so the money is just sitting there in my PayPal waiting to be transferred once this thing is ... [wait for it ]

delivered to my house for FREE (pronounced: save your back old man)

can't wait to hook this beauty up to my media cabinet which has been sitting there in my side yard for the last God only knows how many years, whilst I risk life and limb with the wire wheel on the angle grinder

peace! and lemme know if you happen to own one of these beauties and how do they handle?

[Thealien]

Originally Posted by Gregski

so I finally pulled the trigger and treated myself to a Campbell Hausfeld, 60 Gal. 2-stage, 3.7 HP electric air compressor (XC602100) from Home Depot

I figured everything 2-stage on Craigslist looked like it was made during the Bronze Age, meaning it served it's purpose and they were dumping it for a reason

plus I got some serious discounts off of the fake arbitrary original price, LOL

$1,380.00

$1,104.00 Saved $276.00 (20%)

plus GOT $100 OFF and payed only $1,100.60 instead for opening a new HD credit card

we are really good about not carrying any unsecured debt so the money is just sitting there in my PayPal waiting to be transferred once this thing is ... [wait for it ]

delivered to my house for FREE (pronounced: save your back old man)

can't wait to hook this beauty up to my media cabinet which has been sitting there in my side yard for the last God only knows how many years, whilst I risk life and limb with the wire wheel on the angle grinder

peace! and lemme know if you happen to own one of these beauties and how do they handle?

What is the circuit size needed for that. Nice compressor

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Thealien

What is the circuit size needed for that. Nice compressor

230 volts 16.2 amps, so I am not quite protecting the motor at this time as I am pulling from a clothes dryer outlet which I think is 30 amp but that's a simple circuit breaker swap

[Thealien]

Originally Posted by Gregski

230 volts 16.2 amps, so I am not quite protecting the motor at this time as I am pulling from a clothes dryer outlet which I think is 30 amp but that's a simple circuit breaker swap

Fuses and circuit breakers generally don’t protect the motor anyway. Most motor circuits when done properly have a contactor with what is known as heaters in the line. When the motor draws over the amperage it is supposed to run on, the heaters trip the overloads. Many times due to the inrush of amperage at start up the breakers can be three times The amperage of the motor and sometimes more.

I have a craftsman 5 hp 230 V that I’ve been abusing for 30+ years. I’m due for a new one and that looks nice.

[Gregski]

and I just found this YouTube Campbell Hausfeld video by Mike Finnegan


How to Choose an Air Compressor